Switch.



H. L. KIRKPATRICK.

SWITCH.

AIPLIOATION FILED DEO.3,1912.

Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

coLumulg ILANOCUMPII CO.,WASMINDTON,'DC.

ENT @FFTQE.

HARRY L. KIRKPATRICK, OF PUEBLO, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-TI-IIRD TO WALTER M. RANKIN, OF SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI.

SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 16,1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HARRY L. KIRK- rnrnrcn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pueblo, in the county of Pueblo and State of Colorado, have invented new and useful Improvements in Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in railway switch stands and especially with reference to improvements in the operating handle or lever and means for locking the same so as to cause the handle or lever to lock the switch rail, the object of the invention being to provide an improved switch stand in which the handle or lever may be moved to any extent necessary to insure the placing of the switch point against the rail and avoid the necessity of having to disconnect the bridle rods or to rearrange the ad justment of the stand in order to vary the throw of the switch, the invention consisting in the construction, combination and arrangement of devices, hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing :Figure 1 is a perspective view of a switch stand constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the same on the plane indicated by the line c-a of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail vertical sectional view of the same on the plane indicated by the line Z)Z2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a modification. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the handle or lever.

In the embodiment of my invention here shown, there is a stand or tripod 1 which comprises upwardly converging legs 2, the base 3 on which the legs are mounted, a bearing 4 connecting the lower portions of the legs and an adjusting plate 5 to which the upper ends of the legs are secured. This adjusting plate is circular and is provided with peripheral locking spurs or teeth 6.

The staff 7 which carries the target 8 and signal lantern 9 is mounted in a circular bearing 10 with which the adjusting plate is provided and also in the bearing 4. This staff has the usual crank arm 11 to which the bridle rods are connected which operate the movable switch point. The bridle rods and the switch point are not here shown as they are of the usual well-known construction.

The handle or lever 12 comprises an inner member 13 which is secured to the staff at a point immediately above the adjusting plate and a movable outer member 14 which is pivotally connected as at 15 to the outer end of the inner member. The pivot 15 is at some distance from the inner end of the outer member and the inner member 13 is provided at its outer end with a vertical arm 16 which has a vertical slot or recess in which the inner end of the outer member 14: operates. The arm 16 and the inner end of the member 14E have openings which are coincident when the member 14L is in vertical position so that the shackle of a suitable padlock 17 may be passed through the said openings and the padlock employed to lock the member let in such vertical position. The member 14- is provided on its inner or under side with locking teeth 18 which may be engaged with the teeth 6 of the adjusting plate at many points around the periphery of the adjusting plate so as to lock the handle or lever and, hence, also the stafi and its crank arm.

It will be understood that the switch point, being connected to the crank arm 11 by the usual bridle rods may be moved to any extent required to cause it to lie closely against the track rail by moving the handle or lever 12. Thus, the handle or lever of my improved switch stand is not restricted in its movements to any certain adjustments but may be moved as far as may be required to effectually set the switch point under any circumstances. As soon as the switch point has been set the outer member of the handle or lever is turned down so as to engage the teeth of the adjusting plate and lock the switch and the padlock may be then applied so as to secure the handle or lever in locked position.

To protect the operating parts of my improved switch stand from the weather, I provide a conical cap 19 which is secured on the inner member of the handle or lever for movement therewith and has an opening in its apex through which the staff extends.

WVhile T have herein shown and described a preferred form of my invention, I would have it understood that changes may be made in the form, proportion and construction of the several parts without departing from the spirit of my invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

When it is desired to limit the extent of movement of the crank arm, a pair of stops may be employed, which are provided with set screws 21, to secure them in place on the adjusting plate, the latter being pro vided with threaded openings for engagement by the set screws.

I claim 1. A railway switch stand of the class described having a stafi provided with a crank arm, an adjusting plate through which the staff extends and in which the same revolves, the said adjusting plate having peripheral locking teeth, and an operating lever or handle comprising an inner member secured to the stafi and arranged to sweep over the adjusting plate and an outer member pivotally connected to the inner member and adapted to engage the teeth of the adjusting plate at any required point.

2. A railway switch stand of the class described having a stafi provided with a crank arm, an adjusting plate through which the stafi extends and in which the same revolves, the said adjusting plate having peripheral locking teeth, and an operating lever or handle comprising an inner member secured to the stait and arranged to sweep over the adjusting plate, an outer member pivotally connected to the inner member and adapted.

to engage the teeth of the adjusting plate at any required point, and means to secure the outer member of the handle or lever in locking position.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY L. KIRKPATRICK. lVitnesses THos. L. LEWIS, GEO. MOEAGAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

